FAO, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, is resuming today its seed fairs programme in South Sudan to bridge the food gap in the country.
In 2012, the third year of the initiative, 13 seed fairs are planned.Six were already done in Morobo and Yei counties of Central Equatoria, and Yambio, Western Equatoria, in February.
FAO says that around 180 seed sellers and 1700 beneficiaries attended those events.
The seeds on sale included maize, sorghum, groundnuts and beans.
Last week, there were two more seed fairs in Magwi, in Eastern Equatoria.
The seed fairs start today in Rumbek East of Lakes state and in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, later in the week.
The fairs bring together local farmers, trained in modern agricultural methods, who have surplus seed to sell or trade and other farmers looking for such seed.
Beneficiaries Ð that is farmers with few resources Ð receive vouchers with cash value from the Government that can be exchanged for seeds at the fair.